Occlusion

Occlusion is the contact between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw. It is a complex function in which all the elements of the oral system are involved: the two jaws with the teeth, the muscles of the face, the head and the neck, as well as the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). The teeth of the upper and lower jaws are placed next to each other, in the shape of an arch, so that they touch each other forming the dental block.

Ευθυγράμμιση άνω αριστερού κυνόδοντα & όλων των προσθίων δοντιών

Συνωστισμός προσθίων άνω & κάτω δοντιών χωρίς εξαγωγές

Διόρθωση βαθιάς σύγκλεισης & ευθυγράμμιση των δοντιών

What is Centric Occlusion?

During its function, the lower jaw moves in different positions. Thus, the contact between the teeth of the two jaws (closure) can be done in different positions.

Centric Occlusion is the position in which we have the most contact between the teeth when they are closed and it is the one position that concerns us the most. We believe that centric occlusion is bad (malocclusion) when not all the back teeth touch with the same force, either because the teeth are “crooked”, ie have orthodontic problems, or because of poor fillings or prosthetic work.

Occlusal anomalies

The term occlusal anomaly is used to describe teeth and jaws that do not fit correctly. Tooth abnormalities can occur independently (dental) or coexist with jaw abnormalities (skeletal abnormalities).

Cross bite occurs when the upper and lower jaws are not properly aligned. It usually occurs when one or more of the upper teeth close inside the lower teeth and can occur both in the front (anterior Crossbite) and / or on the sides of the mouth (posterior Crossbite).

Negative consequences of malocclusion

There are 3 main categories of occlusal abnormalities:

In Class I, the teeth of the two jaws are in a proper relationship with each other but are crowded, sparse or generally irregular (show dental abnormalities).
In Class II, the upper teeth and / or jaw appear to be further forward than the lower teeth (maxillary protrusion).
In Class III, the lower teeth and / or the jaw appear to be further forward than the upper teeth (mandibular protrusion).

Malocclusion causes difficulty in chewing, something that may not be perceived (due to habit) by the patient who adopts alternative ways of chewing. This causes:

Increased pressure on specific teeth and increased risk of breaking a tooth or filling.
Increased pressure on the jaws and muscles (this is called jaw clenching) resulting in chronic personal pain or chronic headaches.

When orthodontic problems coexist, additional problems arise:

They make it difficult to clean the teeth, thus increasing the risk of caries and gingivitis
They reduce the chewing capacity
They negatively affect the person’s appearance, causing insecurity and psychological burden

Why restoring occlusion is important

Through orthodontic treatment we seek to restore the right relationship between the teeth and the jaws. In this way, we ensure the perfect and normal functioning of the oral system and its longevity. Of course, there are cases of mainly adult patients whereby it is not possible to restore the occlusion completely. This is not necessarily a problem because over time adults have adapted their chewing function to the new, different occlusion.

The purpose of Orthodontics is the earliest possible diagnosis and restoration of the occlusal and functional relationships and health in the oral cavity but also achieving the ideal aesthetics of the teeth and the smile.